Thank goodness that is over!I think it's safe to say that I have been apprehensive about attending Cold Water Camp since I signed up for the English Channel 10 months ago. It did not disappoint. It was challenging, cold and tiring. But that is the point.

Coming from QLD it is difficult to find open water cold enough to prepare your body for the temperate waters between England and France. Ideally you train in water a few degrees colder than what you are expecting to swim in so your body and mind know how to tolerate it. This was my first exposure to swimming for long periods in water below 18 degrees and it was confronting.

Melbourne city in the distance

Grimsey Brisbane swimmers

​I was lucky this year, there were 8 Brisbane swimmers attending the camp. Karlie, Brittney, Anna, Dan, Micheal, Mal, Lynton and myself. I had met them all, trained regularly with them and really enjoyed their company. The first swim was 1.5hrs which I managed well, followed by a night swim for 1hr in the marina. We all wore flashing head lights and glow sticks on our togs for safety reasons and also to try and avoid head-on collisions with other swimmers. I really enjoyed the night swim. It was something I hadn't done before and swimming into seaweed in the dark and grabbing random feet that swam by provided some light entertainment.

The following morning was our 3hr swim. I knew the distance covered would not be an issue as I am generally in the pool for 3hrs each day for training. It was the cold water that concerned me. I felt chilly the whole time and I couldn't feel my toes but by maintaining a good stroke rate around 64 strokes per minute this was about as bad as it got. I tried to keep a smile on my face and think happy thoughts and this really seemed to help. The 3 hours flew and I didn't feel physically fatigued but I was well aware that the following day I would be swimming at least double to tackle the English Channel qualifying swim of 6-8hrs, which was rather daunting. That same afternoon we had another 1hr swim and I realised that my body was beginning to warm itself up post swim a lot quicker than it had previously. I still got the shakes five minutes after getting out when the cold blood from the periphery reached the core but once I was dry and dressed they had dramatically reduced.

Getting ready to take the plunge

The day of the big swim had arrived and after going through my feeding plan with Campbell we set off to the Brighton Baths. It was dark and the air temp was around 14 degrees. It was windy the water was rough and very nerve wracking.

Training buddies- Myself and Karlie

The start of the qualifying swim

​The clock started and at 6am around 30 swimmers made their way into the 15.5 degree waters of Brighton Bay where we would stay until lunchtime. The swim was intended as a 6-8hr swim for aspiring Channel swimmers. My goal for the day as discussed with my coach and sports dietitian was to make it to the 6hr English Channel qualifying time. After all, it was a training swim and not worth risking an injury or getting sick from fatigue as I didn't have weeks in my favour to recover. The first 1.7 km loop was great. I felt numb from the cold and the adrenaline was pumping. This sensation did not last long. After my 2nd loop I felt chilly and as I had never swum in water below 16 degrees let alone for 6hrs I was worried about becoming severely hypothermic and unsure if I would even make it to the English Channel qualifying time of 6hrs. I thought about Jess a lot and about the motivation behind the swim. At no stage was I going to quit, I realised the experienced support crew would pick up the signs of severe hypothermia and left my fate in their hands. So with my nutrition running smoothly and feeling physically strong, my Brisbane training partner and fellow 2016 channel aspirant Karlie, swam our way to 6hrs. The exhilaration of finishing did not last long as I was quickly talked into swimming for a further hour. I did, begrudgingly...

Perfect Channel training weather. Choppy and windy.

The feeding station where the support crews were based

​I have a lot of work to do over the next 3 months especially further cold water exposure. This will involve some further trips to Sydney/Melbourne and putting on an additional 2 kgs which will hold me in good stead for tolerating the water temperature. My nutrition plan could not have gone better thanks to my sports dietitian Tara Diversi. After battling bloating, nausea and vomiting during my Rottnest Channel swim, I was so excited that I tolerated all my feeds and finished the swim with plenty of energy and recovered really well. My body is also holding up brilliantly post long training swims with no injuries or muscle fatigue, thanks to the careful and considered approach of my coach Trent Grimsey and soft tissue therapist Julian Smith from Myo Motion.

Thank you to all of you who have already donated to Swimming 4 Jess. Our fundraising tally for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is also looking healthy at $24 955, with a sizeable contribution on it's way from the annual Collier's Charity Lunch, so very exciting.

If you have not yet donated perhaps you would like to attend our Swimming 4 Jess Charity Lunch in Brisbane on Friday 27th May 2016.Individual tickets are $170 each with 100% of all money raised from the day going to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.For further details or to book a ticket contact Campbell via email- c_gordon25@hotmail.com or call 0407650743

Jane, this is gripping reading of your cold water swim and your determination. Congratulations on qualifying, and swimming the extra hour! The funds are mounting up, and the fundraising lunch on 27 May is a great way for everyone to feel part of your awesome efforts to raise funds for faster treatments. Lyn.

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Jane Gordon

I am 35, married to an amazingly supportive man, mother of 3 little boys and recently swam the English Channel Solo in 2016. I was swimming to raise money and awareness for Cure Brain Cancer Foundation and to pay tribute to our friend Jess who had recently lost her battle with this disease.Follow our journey, support the cause. It's time to make a change.